British Company Fined for Mishandling Asbestos

The British Environment Agency has leveled heavy criticism at Biffa, a firm that supervises and manages waste disposal projects, for its "persistent mishandling" of dangerous asbestos at the company's landfill site in the central English county of Derbyshire. The agency's report states that asbestos fibers that became airborne during the project posed a serious health risk to workers, local residents and the natural surroundings.

The remarks occurred as the company, based in the industrial city of Birmingham, received a fine of GBP40,000 (US$65,470) from the Derbyshire Magistrates' Court last week as punishment for failing to manage asbestos found at the Elvaston Quarry landfill. According to the court reports, the company did not deal with asbestos found at the site using the methods required by its state waste disposal license. The landfill has since been shut down.

Mark Cunningham, a spokesman for the British Environment Agency, said that the company's "persistent mishandling" of asbestos debris at the site clearly caused a high risk of asbestos fibers becoming an airborne contaminant and creating a serious health hazard. Mr. Cunningham also said that the combination of poor management and workers with inadequate training in the handling of asbestos exacerbated the problem.

On at least two occasions, according to Environment Agency officials, Biffa workers did not handle brown and white asbestos degree using the specific methods outlined by Agency rules. Also, the company did not provide adequate safety clothing, air ventilation or breathing filters at the site, thus exposing workers to potential asbestos exposure.

The court found that the company committed two violations of their waste management license requirements. First, workers did not separate the asbestos from the rest of the debris and create specific areas for the loose materials. Second, the company failed to cover or contain the loose asbestos in order to prevent it from becoming airborne.

During one visit from Environment Agency inspectors in May 2007, they found that workers had left some loose asbestos in bags and some sheet asbestos lying out on the site. The inspectors also noted that employees were not taking the proper precautions to prevent exposure to themselves or potential environmental contamination. After the inspectors informed the company about the issues, they returned the following week, only to see that the workers were still not taking the required precautions. They reported that the workers appeared to be uncertain as to what steps they needed to take to insure that asbestos contamination be kept to a minimum.

The judge who ruled on the case mentioned that Biffa did not have an "unblemished record" when it came to violations of the country's environmental regulations and that the mismanagement of the asbestos at the Derbyshire site constituted "serious breaches". He also decided that the company should cover the costs to clean up the site, GBP15,000 (US$24,550).

Mr. Cunningham told reporters that he wanted to assure area residents that inspectors found "no evidence" that any asbestos had contaminated the local environment. He also expressed his hopes that the court's actions would send a "clear message" to other firms that might consider acting in a similar way to Biffa, and that his office would take "strong action" against any company that violated environmental safety regulations.

A Biffa representative stated that the company regretted what had happened and that workers underwent asbestos training before the Derbyshire site closed permanently in October 2007.

Sources: Workplace Law Network, letsrecycle.com

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